Imago Dei: Created in the Image of God

When does human life begin? People have asked this question for centuries. Long before it was a political hot-button or a debate among scientists, God had something to say about the value of human life. 

The term “Imago Dei” is Latin for “The Image of God.” It is the foundational belief that every human is created in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26-27, God created humans in His image, and He created them as equal, valuable, and sacred. As image-bearers, we’ve been born with rights worth defending.

Jesus was the visible expression of the Imago Dei. He pursued and advocated for the outcast, the sick, and women and children (who were considered property at the time). In the first century Church, it was legal to leave unwanted children in a trash heap to die. There weren’t legal rights to keep female children either. It was Christians who created orphanages and hospitals, and became a safe place for widows, orphans, and the sick. It was the doctrine of Imago Dei that fueled the movement to end slavery. 

The value and protection of human life are at the core of our beliefs as Christians. This is why as believers, we should stand up for racial injustice, special needs children, single moms, and foster kids. The idea of being pro-life means you are pro-life from the womb to the tomb. To fight for the most vulnerable is a part of our Christian heritage.

Michael is a greeter at Christ Fellowship Palm Beach Gardens. People flock to the door because they don't want to miss out on a hug from Michael. Michael happens to have Down syndrome. About 75-80% of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted, and many European countries brag about being nearly Down syndrome-free. But our church and world are better because of people like Michael.

Alicia was shot in the neck when she was single and pregnant and left paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors encouraged her to abort her baby, but she decided against their advice. Today, her daughter, Annalee, is 3 years old and thriving because Christ Fellowship Church rallied around them, and organizations like Hearts for Moms helped meet their practical needs.

Michael and Annalee’s lives are precious. When did their life become worth fighting for? 

When did any of our lives become a life worth fighting for? 

The Science

Several years back, scientists filmed the moment of conception through in-vitro fertilization. In the lab, they took pictures of what happened when the sperm met the egg. They were dumbfounded when they witnessed "The Spark of Life”—when 23 chromosomes from the dad met 23 chromosomes from the mom creating its own unique genetic code and independent DNA. And 96% of those scientists agree that this “Spark of Life” moment is when life begins. 

Here’s what happens in the first 21 weeks of life: 

• 4-6 weeks: The mother can test positive. The circulatory system of the baby is starting to work and there is a tiny heartbeat. 
• 6-7 weeks: The nose and mouth start to take shape, and the brain, hands, and feet are developing.
  
• 8-12 weeks: The vital organs of the baby begin functioning, nerve cells begin forming, and the baby can feel pain.
  
• 12-14 weeks: You can see the baby's gender, brain impulses get stronger, and the baby can now suck their thumb.
  
• 19 weeks: The baby can taste, see, smell, and hear the voice of the mom and dad outside the womb.
  
• 21 weeks: The earliest surviving baby was born and survived (with medical help) 
  

So, when does life begin? Here’s what some modern scientists say: 

“Although life is a continuous process, fertilization is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new, genetically distinct human organism is thereby formed.” Ronan R. O’Rahilly, Fabiola Muller, from Human Embryology & Teratology.

“To accept the fact that after fertilization takes place, a new human has come to be is no longer a matter of taste or opinion and not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence…each individual has a very neat beginning at conception.” Dr. Jerome Lejeune, Father of Modern Genetics 

The Bible

The Bible makes it clear that God is the Creator and Author of human life. Psalm 139:13-16 explains how God was there at the moment of conception—and there before we were born. 

Before Mary met up with Elizabeth, she was troubled when she found out about her pregnancy. But when she went to visit her aunt, Elizabeth's baby lept in her womb in Luke 1:41-44. 

Jesus was only "a few cells" biologically, but spiritually, He was human (100% man and 100% God). 

When the angel announced John's arrival in Luke 5:1-25, he said he would be filled with the Spirit before he was born—indicating there was a spirit and soul present before his birth.

If the soul and the spirit are present in the womb, isn't that a life worth protecting? 

Jesus isn't a one-issue Savior, and we can't be one-issue Christians. It's sad that people's picture of Christians is often those picketing at abortion clinics or casting judgment on others. Protecting and fighting for life is just as much about fighting for vulnerable moms as it is about fighting for the unborn. 

Women facing unplanned pregnancies aren't asking theological questions. They are wondering how they can afford and raise a child without support. To truly be champions of life, we have to create a culture where abortion isn't the obvious option. We want to be a church that helps with special needs, supports single moms, and equips foster and adoptive parents. And when a woman is hurting from the pain and trauma of an abortion, we want the church to be the safest place to find healing and hope. 

Let’s do our part to create a culture of life, step up, get involved, and be the hands and feet of Jesus.

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